A farming calendar is crucial for planning
Plan to succeed
Successful farming relies on prudent planning and the timely execution of critical activities related to a chosen farming enterprise.
A farming calendar is fundamental to farming enterprises, helping farmers be proactive and identify risks beforehand.
It is also an effective budgeting tool that ensures a farmer efficiently manages the farm enterprise's finances.
Furthermore, at the end of each production year, the calendar can be compared with financial records to evaluate the performance of the agribusiness and provide information on areas for improvement to maximise the profitability of the business.
According to Agribank’s technical advisor for crops and poultry, Hanks Saisai, success in the farming sphere relies on prudent planning and the timely execution of critical activities related to a chosen farming enterprise.
He said an essential tool to facilitate this is a farming calendar that enables farmers to plan their farming activities over a 12-month period.
"A farming calendar, by definition, is a 12-month schedule that indicates a range of activities that a farmer must undertake to realise their goals. This crucial calendar is needed by livestock, crop, poultry, and piggery farmers alike."
Crop management
An agricultural farming calendar used by crop farmers is known as a cropping calendar.
He said that by definition, a cropping calendar is a 12-month plan that indicates the month in which each production activity has to be undertaken to ensure success.
"The cropping calendar informs the farmer in advance when to start with land preparation and when it is essential to purchase inputs such as seeds, fertilisers, herbicides, pesticides, seed trays and growing mix."
Moreover, Saisai said that the calendar specifies the timing of sowing seeds and all other necessary activities such as weeding, fertilising, and pest control until the crop reaches maturity and is ready to be harvested, stored and marketed.
Managing livestock activities
A farming calendar for livestock farmers guides farmers on the correct timing to prepare their bulls, rams, bucks and cows before they can be mated, as well as when to vaccinate livestock against diseases.
"Moreover, the calendar informs the farmer when to expect calving, lambing and kidding seasons, when to wean, undertake supplementary feeding during the dry season, and when to market livestock to generate an income."
Chicken farming
On the other hand, the calendar for poultry farmers can be divided into production cycles that stipulate the activities that must be carried out, such as feeding, vaccination, cleaning of houses, and all other necessary activities that ensure eggs are produced or chickens reach slaughter weight within the production cycle.
"A business without clearly outlined activities over a 12-month period has minimal prospects of becoming a success. Therefore, operating a successful farming enterprise requires preparation and planning. To this end, a farming calendar for your farming enterprise is a must-have to ensure success," said Saisai.
It is also an effective budgeting tool that ensures a farmer efficiently manages the farm enterprise's finances.
Furthermore, at the end of each production year, the calendar can be compared with financial records to evaluate the performance of the agribusiness and provide information on areas for improvement to maximise the profitability of the business.
According to Agribank’s technical advisor for crops and poultry, Hanks Saisai, success in the farming sphere relies on prudent planning and the timely execution of critical activities related to a chosen farming enterprise.
He said an essential tool to facilitate this is a farming calendar that enables farmers to plan their farming activities over a 12-month period.
"A farming calendar, by definition, is a 12-month schedule that indicates a range of activities that a farmer must undertake to realise their goals. This crucial calendar is needed by livestock, crop, poultry, and piggery farmers alike."
Crop management
An agricultural farming calendar used by crop farmers is known as a cropping calendar.
He said that by definition, a cropping calendar is a 12-month plan that indicates the month in which each production activity has to be undertaken to ensure success.
"The cropping calendar informs the farmer in advance when to start with land preparation and when it is essential to purchase inputs such as seeds, fertilisers, herbicides, pesticides, seed trays and growing mix."
Moreover, Saisai said that the calendar specifies the timing of sowing seeds and all other necessary activities such as weeding, fertilising, and pest control until the crop reaches maturity and is ready to be harvested, stored and marketed.
Managing livestock activities
A farming calendar for livestock farmers guides farmers on the correct timing to prepare their bulls, rams, bucks and cows before they can be mated, as well as when to vaccinate livestock against diseases.
"Moreover, the calendar informs the farmer when to expect calving, lambing and kidding seasons, when to wean, undertake supplementary feeding during the dry season, and when to market livestock to generate an income."
Chicken farming
On the other hand, the calendar for poultry farmers can be divided into production cycles that stipulate the activities that must be carried out, such as feeding, vaccination, cleaning of houses, and all other necessary activities that ensure eggs are produced or chickens reach slaughter weight within the production cycle.
"A business without clearly outlined activities over a 12-month period has minimal prospects of becoming a success. Therefore, operating a successful farming enterprise requires preparation and planning. To this end, a farming calendar for your farming enterprise is a must-have to ensure success," said Saisai.
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